Hants Police spat at during pandemic
More than 100 spitting incidents revealed.
POLICE officers in Hampshire were spat at more than 100 times during the pandemic, it has been revealed.
Between March and September this year Hampshire Constabulary recorded 115 cases of officers being spat at.
The incidents have been described as “vile, disgusting and awful”.
Officers are now being given the opportunity to self-isolate in hotel rooms.
The government has pledged to tighten the law as the number of officers spat at is on the rise.
Highest numbers
Hampshire Constabulary figures revealed that this year the highest number of incidents was recorded in March when officers were spat at 26 times.
It was followed by August with 23 incidents, February with 19 and January and May with 18.
“It is horrible any way, my staff say they’d rather being punched in the face than being spat at but when Covid is with us that makes it even more dangerous.”
Olivia Pinkney, Chief Constable Hampshire Constabulary.
Police officers in Hampshire were spat at 152 times between January and September this year.
Over the same period last year the force recorded 120 incidents, 100 of which happened between March and September.
Vile
Zoe Wakefield, chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said it is “concerning” that figures are on the rise.
She added: “In any situation, spitting is vile behaviour, but it really is not an acceptable part of a police officer’s job to turn up to a crime, to help members of the public, and have coronavirus weaponised against them.The courts need to play their part and implement the maximum sentences they can if a person is assaulting a police officer. And if they have the power to implement custodial sentences, then they should be doing that.”
It has not been revealed where in Hampshire the incidents happened.
But Hampshire Constabulary said to date, no officers or staff who had been spat or coughed at are reported to have contracted the virus, and no offer of hotel accommodation has been taken up.
But the hotel provision will remain in place and has incurred no costs so far.
Twisted
Kit Malthouse MP for North West Hampshire and Minister of State for Policing, Crime and Justice, said the government has recently announced plans to double the maximum sentence for assaulting front line workers from one to two years.